Access to the LulzBot Taz4 printer is via the OctoPrint web interface at http://192.168.2.10/. If you are trained to use the printer you will be given a set of login credentials to use.

Features and Available Filaments

The TAZ4 is a reliable open source 3D extruder printer with a single print nozzle. It uses 3mm filament and has a print volume roughly the size of a basketball.

We have a variety of filaments available. Most of them are PLA in different colours, but also

  • Glow in the dark
  • Bamboo fill - can be sanded and stained
  • Bronze fill - can be polished to a dull shine

There is a webcam attached to the printer so you can view the print progress from elsewhere in the space, and it will also make a timelapse video of your print!

SAFETY

The 3D printer is a dangerous piece of equipment with powerful stepper motors and heating elements. To make use of the printer you will need to be inducted in its use or you can ask another member to help you start a print job.

Usage Costs

When you load a model using OctoPrint you will get an estimated cost. This is for ABS/PLA filament. If you are using a specialty filament then you will need to load a different slicing profile which will have the cost for the specialty filament.

In general, the cost of ABS/PLA is $0.15 per cm^3 (ABS is 1.04g/cm^3). This covers our cost of filament, power and spare parts for the printer (eg new heating elements and heat pads).

Tips and Tricks

  • DO NOT put your hands or fingers in the printer while a print is in progress. The nozzles and bed is hot and the motors do not forgive.
  • Specialty filaments should be removed from the printer after the print has finished and the nozzle flushed with normal PLA filament. Specialty filaments have a habit of not remelting after prolonged heating and blocking the nozzle!

Blog Posts

Photos

  • Solder Fingers for holding wire

    Solder Fingers for holding wire

  • Printing more enclosures

    Printing more enclosures